Humane trap

ABSTRACT

The trap consists of a pair of rings pivotally secured together at one side thereof in juxtaposition one with the other. A tension spring extends between offset portions on each ring and when the rings are substantially concentric one with the other, the spring is fully extended and biassing the rings to the nonconcentric or sprung position whereby an animal may be trapped between the lower portion of one ring and the upper portion of the other ring. The trap is held in concentric or set position either by means of pan or foot treadle trigger mechanism adjacent the base of the rings or by a swinging trigger mechanism between the upper sides of the rings with the trigger or actuating members extending down across the area defined by the rings. This swinging trigger can operate the trap by movement of an animal through the rings in either direction and the trap can be used on land or in the water as desired.

United States Patent [191 Steiner 1 1 HUMANE TRAP [75] Inventor: HenryWilliam Steiner, Dryden,

Ontario, Canada [73] Assignee: Colonial Mirror and Glass Corporation[22] Filed: June 11, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 368,720

[52] US. Cl. 43/86 [51] Int. Cl A01m 23/26 [58] Field of Search 43/86,85, 81

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,107,775 8/1914 Fugate43/86 1,463,163 2/1923 Greenstreet et al. 43/86 1,881,871 10/1932 Nerby43/86 X 2,506,055 5/1950 Benson r 43/85 2,578,856 12/1951 Story 43/853,057,111 10/1962 Beaulieu r 43/81 3,534,493 10/1970 Dahlgren 43/85 X[451 Sept. 17, 1974 Primary Examinerl-lugh R. Chamblee Attorney, Agent,or FirmStanley G. Ade

[ 5 7 ABSTRACT The trap consists of a pair of rings pivotally securedtogether at one side thereof in juxtaposition one with the other. Atension spring extends between offset portions on each ring and when therings are substantially concentric one with the other, the spring isfully extended and biassing the rings to the non-concentric or sprungposition whereby an animal may be trapped between the lower portion ofone ring and the upper portion of the other ring. The trap is held inconcentric or set position either by means of pan or foot treadletrigger mechanism adjacent the base of the rings or by a swingingtrigger mechanism between the upper sides of the rings with the triggeror actuating members extending down across the area defined by therings. This swinging trigger can operate the trap by movement of ananimal through the rings in either direction and the trap can be used onland or in the water as desired.

13 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PATENTEDSEFI H914 I 835,576.

SHEET 2 OF 2 iiiini FIG. 6

FIG.

HUMANE TRAP BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to newand useful improvements in humane traps.

Many forms of traps have been designed and normally such traps operateby either a foot treadle mechanism or by actuating members or wiresextending across the path through which the animal must pass.

Certain animals are better trapped by the foot treadle mechanism andother animals are better trapped by the hanging wire kind of mechanism.Furthermore, the majority of traps operate with animals passing only inone direction and such traps are not always particularly suited for usein both land and water environments.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention overcomes thesedisadvantages by using a fixed ring and a movable ring pivotted togetherat the sides thereof and normally held in the concentric or set positionby means of a heavy duty tension spring extending between lugsoffstanding from the sides of the rings.

Two methods of actuation are provided either a treadle mechanism or ahanging wire mechanism and one advantage of the hanging wire mechanismis that it will be actuated by animals passing through the trap ineither direction.

The principal object and essence of the invention is therefore toprovide a device of the character herewithin described which is suitablefor use upon land or water and can be actuated either by a foot treadleor pan mechanism or by a hanging wire mechanism, the latter beingparticularly suited for use when the trap is used in an underwaterenvironment so that a swimming animal may be caught thereby.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the characterherewithin described which, when used with the hanging wire triggermechanism, is adapted to be actuated by an animal swimming through ineither direction.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a device of thecharacter herewithin described which is humane in operation inasmuch asthe animal s neck or back is broken as soon as the trap is sprung.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a device of thecharacter herewithin described which is simple in construction,economical in manufacture and otherwise well suited to the purpose forwhich it is designed.

With the foregoing objects in view, and other such objects andadvantages as will become apparent to those skilled in the art to whichthis invention relates as this specification proceeds, my inventionconsists essentially in the arrangement andconstruction of parts all ashereinafter more particularly described, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings in which:

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a front elevation of the device shownin the set position.

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1, but showing the trap in the sprungposition.

FIG. 3 is a view at right angles from FIG. 1 taken from the left-handside thereof.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view substantially along the lines 44of FIG. 1, with the latch bar shown in phantom for clarity.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary view of FIG. 4 showing the latch bar engagedwith the movable ring.

FIG. 6 is a front elevation of the second trigger means per se.

FIG. 7 is an isometric view of the trigger mechanism per se of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the first trigger means beinga section substantially along the lines 8-8 of FIG. 1.

In the drawings like characters of reference indicate correspondingparts in the different figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Proceeding therefore to describe the invention indetail, reference to the drawings will show that a small rectangularbase plate 10 is provided by which the device may be situated on theground or a supporting surface. In this regard, a chain 11 may beprovided attached to the plate 10 and extending therefrom so that it maybe anchored to the ground in the usual manner (not illustrated).

A fixed ring 12 is welded to the base plate 10 by the lower side 13thereof and extends upwardly from the base plate to be situated in asubstantially vertical plane when the trap is in the normal position.

An offstanding lug 14 is secured as by welding to one side 15 of thefixed ring and extends outwardly therefrom as clearly shown in FIGS. 1and 2.

A movable ring 16 is provided having a diameter substantially similar tothe fixed ring 12 and this movable ring is also provided with anoffstanding lug 17 extending from one side 18 thereof and secured tothis side as by welding or the like.

A relatively loose pivot pin 19 extends between the two lugs thuspivotting the movable ring 16 relative to the fixed ring 12 and in thiscontext, the movable ring is also in a vertical plane parallel to theplane of the fixed ring 12 so that the two rings are in juxtapositionone with the other.

An extension 20 is formed on lug 17 and extends outwardly beyond thepivot 19 and a spring anchor ring 21 is secured to the side 15 of thefixed ring below lug 14 as clearly shown in FIG. 2.

A relatively heavy duty tension spring 22 is secured by the ends thereofto the extension 20 and to the spring anchor 21 and normally biasses themovable ring 16 to the uppermost or sprung position relative to thefixed ring 12 as shown in FIG. 2.

When in this position, note should be taken of the relatively bluntpiece 23 extending downwardly from the upper side 24 of the fixed ringand complimentary blunt teeth 25 extending upwardlyfrom the lower side26 of the movable ring so that any animal trapped between the upper side24 of the fixed ring and the lower side 26 of the movable ring willimmediately be killed.

Two means are provided to hold the trap in the set position shown inFIG. 1, under which circumstances spring 22 is fully extended.

FIG. 8 shows details of the first trigger means which consists of ananchor plate 27 welded to the base plate 10 upon the upper side thereof,it being understood that ring 12 is welded to the anchor plate 27 as at28.

A pan 29 is secured to an actuator 30 which is provided with a detent 31upon the upper side thereof and this actuator is pivotted to the portion32 of the anchor plate 27 by curving a tongue 33 through an aperturewithin the portion 32 (not illustrated) so that the pan pivots freely ina vertical plane.

A trigger latch 34 is pivotted to the offstanding portion 35 of theanchor plate 27 by means of the tongue 36 engaging through an aperture(not illustrated) in this upper portion 35 and this trigger latchnormally extends over the lower side 26 of the movable ring when thetrap is in the set position and engages the detent 31 which holds thetwo rings substantially in juxtaposition one with the other with thespring 22 fully extended.

As soon as an animal steps upon the pan 29, it moves downwardly in thedirection of arrow 37 thus releasing the detent 31 from the distal endof the trigger latch 34 which enables the spring 22 to move the movablering rapidly to the position shown in FIG. 2 thus trapping the animalbetween the two rings as hereinbefore described.

Altemately, the second trigger means collectively I designated 38 may beutilized and this second trigger means can of course, be used on landbut is particularly suited for use in underwater environments where theanimal to be trapped may be swimming.

This second trigger means includes a relatively small anchor lug 39welded to the upper side 40 of the movable ring 16 and extendingupwardly therefrom, a latch bar 41 is pivotted by one end thereof tothis anchor lug by means of pivot 42 and this latch bar includes adetent 43 on the distal end thereof. When in the set position, the latchbar detent 43 engages the upper side 24 of the fixed ring and maintainsthe trap in the set position with the two rings in concentricrelationship one with the other and the spring 22 fully extended.

A trigger component collectively designated 44 consists of a cylindricalbearing portion 45 shown in detail in FIGS. 6 and 7 and freely engagingaround the upper side 24 of the fixed ring 12.

Part of the circumference of this cylindrical bearing portion is cutaway as shown in FIG. 7, between the ends 46 thereof and this cut-awayportion is defined in part by the spaced and parallel first and secondedges 47 and 48 illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7. This cut-away portionenables the detent 43 of the latch bar 41 to engage the fixed ring withthe detent being situated between the end portions 46 of the cylindricalbearing portion.

In this embodiment, a pair of actuating members taking the form of wires49 extend downwardly from the cylindrical bearing portion one from eachend thereof, but of course a single member can be utilized or,alternatively, more than two members can be utilized.

When in the set position, these actuating members extend downwardlyacross the area defined by the rings as shown in FIG. 1 so that ananimal walking or swimming through the rings will engage the actuatingmembers 49 and move same normal to the plane of the rings and it shouldbe observed that these actuating members will move in either directiondepending upon which direction the animal is moving.

If the actuating members 49 are moved in the direction of arrow 50 (withreference to FIG. 7) then the cylindrical bearing portion will rotateupon the fixed ring in the same direction so that edge 47 will engagethe latch bar 41 at the point illustrated by reference character 51 inFIG. 5, thus disengaging the latch bar from the fixed ring 12 andreleasing the trap to the sprung position.

On the other hand, if the actuating members 49 are moved in the oppositedirection to arrow 50, then the lower edge 48 of the cylindrical bearingportion will engage the latch bar at a point illustrated by referencecharacter 52 in FIG. 5, once again disengaging the latch bar from thefixed ring 12 and allowing the spring 22 to close the trap to theposition shown in FIG. 2.

Because of the relatively loose pivotal connection 19 between the tworings, means are provided to stop any side ways movement of the movablering 16 relative to the fixed ring 12 which might jam the operation ofthe trap and in this connection reference should be made to FIG. 3.

Reference character 53 illustrates the anti-spread bar means consistingof a member 54 which is part of a circle having a diameter similar tothe diameter of the rings 12 and 16.

A pair of hoop supports 55 are secured to the fixed ring and extend overthe movable ring and are secured to the bar 54. This bar 54 ispositioned so that it does not interfere with the movement of themovable ring 16 between the set and sprung positions, but does preventany sideways movement occurring as this would be restricted by thearcuately curved or partially curved bar 54.

Although the various components have been described and illustrated asbeing attached either to the fixed ring 12 or the movable ring 16, itwill nevertheless be realized that these attachment points can bereversed without interfering with the operation of the trap in any way.

Finally, it should be noted that when the first trigger means is in usethe trigger component 49 and latch bar 41 are swung out of position andwhen the second trigger means is used, the trigger latch 27 is swung outof position so that one does not interfere with the operation of theother.

Since various modifications can be made in my invention as hereinabovedescribed, and many apparently widely different embodiments of same madewithin the spirit and scope of the claims without departing from suchspirit and scope, it is intended that all matter contained in theaccompanying specification shall be interpreted as illustrative only andnot in a limiting sense.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. An animal trap for use on land or in water comprising in combinationa base plate, a fixed ring secured to said base plate by the lower sidethereof and extending upwardly therefrom to lie in a substantiallyvertical plane when in use, a movable ring pivotally secured forswinging movement by one side thereof to one side of said fixed ring,said rings being situated in parallel planes and substantially injuxtaposition one with the other, tension spring means operativelyconnected between said rings normally biassing said movable ring out ofconcentric relationship with said fixed ring and in the sprung position,trigger means operatively connected between said rings to hold saidmovable ring substantially in concentric relationship with said fixedring and in the set position, an offstanding lug secured to said fixedring and extending outwardly therefrom in the same plane as said fixedring, and an offstanding lug secured to said movable ring and extendingoutwardly therefrom in the same plane as said movable ring, pivot meanssecuring said lugs together, one of said lugs having an extension beyondsaid pivot means, spring anchor means on said ring which includes theother of said lug, said tension spring being secured to said lugs by theends thereof.

2. The trap according to claim 1 which includes antispread bar meanssecured to one of said rings and partially enclosing a portion of theother of said rings to prevent sideways movement of said movable ringrelative to said fixed ring.

3. The trap according to claim 1 in which said trigger means includes apan pivoted to said base plate and extending therefrom upon one side ofone of said rings, said pan including a detent thereon, and a triggerlatch also pivoted to said base plate upon the opposite side of theother of said rings, said latch extending over the lower side of saidmovable ring and detachably engaging said detent thereby holding saidring in the set position, downward movement of said pan releasing saiddetent from said latch thereby releasing said trap to the sprungposition.

4. The trap according to claim 2 in which said trigger means includes apan pivoted to said base plate and extending therefrom upon one side ofone of said rings, said pan including a detent thereon, and a triggerlatch also pivoted to said base plate upon the opposite side of theother of said rings, said latch extending over the lower side of saidmovable ring and detachably engaging said detent thereby holding saidring in the set position, downward movement of said pan releasing saiddetent from said latch thereby releasing said trap to the sprungposition.

5. The trap according to claim 1 in which said trigger means includes alatch bar pivotally secured adjacent the upper side of one of saidrings, said latch bar having detent means thereon detachably engagingwith the upper side of the other of said ring, and a trigger componentfreely pivoted to the other of said rings also at the upper sidethereof, said trigger component including a cylindrical bearing portionengaging around the other of said ring, said portion being cut away forpart of the circumference thereof and between the ends thereof to permitengagement of said detent means with the other of said rings when saidtrap is in the set position, the spaced and parallel edges of the wallsof said cylindrical portion defining said cutaway portion, at least oneactuating member secured to said trigger component and extending acrossthe area defined by said other ring, movement of said actuating memberin either direction normal to the plane of said rings engaging one ofsaid first and second edges of said cylindrical bearing portion withsaid latch bar and disengaging said latch bar from the other of saidrings thereby releasing said trap to the sprung position.

6. The trap according to claim 2 in which said trigger means includes alatch bar pivotally secured adjacent the upper side of one of saidrings, said latch bar having detent means thereon detachably engagingwith the upper side of the other of said ring, and a trigger componentfreely pivoted to the other of said rings also at the upper sidethereof, said trigger component including a cylindrical bearing portionengaging around the other of said ring, said portion being cut away forpart of the circumference thereof and between the ends thereof to permitengagement of said detent means with the other of said rings when saidtrap is in the set position, the spaced and parallel edges of the wallsof said cylindrical portion defining said cut-away portion, at least oneactuating member secured to said trigger component and extending acrossthe area defined by said other ring, movement of said actuating memberin either direction normal to the plane of said rings engag ing one ofsaid first and second edges of said cylindrical bearing portion withsaid latch bar and disengaging said latch bar from the other of saidrings thereby releasing said trap to the sprung position.

7. The trap according to claim 3 in which said trigger means includes alatch bar pivotally secured adjacent the upper side of one of saidrings, said latch bar having detent means thereon detachably engagingwith the upper side of the other of said ring, and a trigger componentfreely pivoted to the other of said rings also at the upper sidethereof, said trigger component including a cylindrical bearing portionengaging around the other of said ring, said portion being cut away forpart of the circumference thereof and between the ends thereof to permitengagement of said detent means with the other of said rings when saidtrap is in the set position, the spaced and parallel edges of the wallsof said cylindrical portion defining said cutaway portion, at least oneactuating member secured to said trigger component and extending acrossthe area defined by said other ring, movement of said actuating memberin either direction normal to the plane of said rings engaging one ofsaid first and second edges of said cylindrical bearing portion withsaid latch bar and disengaging said latch bar from the other of saidrings thereby releasing said trap to the sprung position.

8. The trap according to claim 4 in which said trigger means includes alatch bar pivotally secured adjacent the upper side of one of saidrings, said latch bar having detent means thereon detachably engagingwith the upper side of the other of said ring, and a trigger componentfreely pivoted to the other of said rings also at the upper sidethereof, said trigger component including a cylindrical bearing portionengaging around the other of said ring, said portion being cut away forpart of the circumference thereof and between the ends thereof to permitengagement of said detent means with the other of said rings when saidtrap is in the set position, the spaced and parallel edges of the wallsof said cylindrical portion defining said cut-away portion, at least oneactuating member secured to said trigger component and extending acrossthe area defined by said other ring, movement of said actuating memberin either direction normal to the plane of said rings engaging one ofsaid first and second edges of said cylindrical bearing portion withsaid latch bar and disengaging said latch bar from the other of saidrings thereby releasing said trap to the sprung position.

9. An animal trap for use on land or in water comprising in combinationa base plate, a fixed ring secured to said base plate by the lower sidethereof and extending upwardly therefrom, a movable ring pivotallysecured for swinging movement by one side thereof to one side of saidfixed ring, said rings being situated in parallel planes andsubstantially in juxtaposition one with the other, tension spring meansoperatively connected between said rings normally biassing said movablering out of concentric relationship with said fixed ring and in thesprung position, and first and second trigger means selectivelyconnectable between said rings to detachably hold said movable ring insubstantially concentric relationship with said fixed ring and in theset position.

10. The trap according to claim 9 which includes antispread bar meanssecured to one of said rings and partially enclosing a portion of theother of said rings to prevent sideways movement of said movable ringrelative to said fixed ring.

11. The trap according to claim 9 which includes an offstanding lugsecured to said fixed ring and extending outwardly therefrom in the sameplane as said fixed ring, and an offstanding lug secured to said movablering and extending outwardly therefrom in the same plane as said movablering, pivot means securing said lugs together, one of said lugs havingan extension beyond said pivot means, spring anchor means on said ringwhich includes the other of said lug, said tension spring being securedto said lugs by the ends thereof.

12. The trap according to claim 9 in which said first trigger meansincludes a pan pivoted to said base plate and extending therefrom uponone side of one of said rings, said pan including a deep end thereon,and a trigger latch also pivoted to said base plate upon the oppositeside of the other of said rings, said latch extending over the lowerside of said movable ring and detachably engaging said deep end therebyholding said ring in the set position, downward movement of said panreleasing said deep end from said latch thereby releasing said trap tothe sprung position.

13. The trap according to claim 9 in which said second trigger meansincludes a latch bar pivotally secured adjacent the upper side of one ofsaid rings, said latch bar having detent means thereon detachablyengaging with the upper side of the other of said ring, and a triggercomponent freely pivoted to the other of said rings also at the upperside thereof, said trigger component including a cylindrical bearingportion engaging around the other of said ring, said portion being cutaway for part of the circumference thereof and between the ends thereofto permit engagement of said detent means with the other of said ringswhen said trap is in the set position, the spaced and parallel edges ofthe walls of said cylindrical portion defining said cut-away portion, atleast one actuating member secured to said trigger component andextending across the area defined by said other ring, movement of saidactuating member in either direction normal to the plane of said ringsengaging one of said first and second edges of said cylindrical bearingportion with said latch bar and disengaging said latch bar from theother of said rings thereby releasing said trap to the sprung position.

' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 5855, 5'76 Dated September 17, 197A Inventor s Henry William Steiner Itis certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and thatsaid Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

. On the Cover Sheet, in item 75] after the inventor's name, Box 18,Site 19, R.R. #l, should be inserted.

Signed and Scaled this fourteenth Day Of October 1975 [SEAL] Attest:

RUTH C. MASON C. MARSHALL DANN Arresting Officer (ummissinner ofParentsand Trademarks F ORM PO-1050 (10-69) USCOMM-DC scan-ps9 U.5 GOVERNMENTPRINTING OFFICE I 69 93 o UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OFCORRECTION Patent No. 5, 55,576 Dated September 1'7, 197A InVentor(s)Henry William Steiner It is certified that error appears in theabove-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are herebycorrected as shown below:

n *n On the Cover Sheet, Item should be deleted.

En'gncd and Sealed this ninth Day of March 1976 [SEAL] 4 A ttes t:

RUTH C. MASON C. MARSHALL DANN Arresting Officer Commissioner ofPatemsand Trademarkx

1. An animal trap for use on land or in water comprising in combinationa base plate, a fixed ring secured to said base plate by the lower sidethereof and extending upwardly therefrom to lie in a substantiallyvertical plane when in use, a movable ring pivotally secured forswinging movement by one side thereof to one side of said fixed ring,said rings being situated in parallel planes and substantially injuxtaposition one with the other, tension spring means operativelyconnected between said rings normally biassing said movable ring out ofconcentric relationship with said fixed ring and in the sprung position,trigger means operatively connected between said rings to hold saidmovable ring substantially in concentric relationship with said fixedring and in the set position, an offstanding lug secured to said fixedring and extending outwardly therefrom in the same plane as said fixedring, and an offstanding lug secured to said movable ring and extendingoutwardly therefrom in the same plane as said movable ring, pivot meanssecuring said lugs together, one of said lugs having an extension beyondsaid pivot means, spring anchor means on said ring which includes theother of said lug, said tension spring being secured to said lugs by theends thereof.
 2. The trap according to claim 1 which includes antispreadbar means secured to one of said rings and partially enclosing a portionof the other of said rings to prevent sideways movement of said movablering relative to said fixed ring.
 3. The trap according to claim 1 inwhich said trigger means includes a pan pivoted to said base plate andextending therefrom upon one side of one of said rings, said panincluding a detent thereon, and a trigger latch also pivoted to saidbase plate upon the opposite side of the other of said rings, said latchextending over the lower side of said movable ring and detachablyengaging said detent thereby holding said ring in the set position,downward movement of said pan releasing said detent from said latchthereby releasing said trap to the sprung position.
 4. The trapaccording to claim 2 in which said trigger means includes a pan pivotedto said base plate and extending therefrom upon one side of one of saidrings, said pan including a detent thereon, and a trigger latch alsopivoted to said base plate upon the opposite side of the other of saidrings, said latch extending over the lower side of said movable ring anddetachably engaging said detent thereby holding said ring in the setposition, downward movement of said pan releasing said detent from saidlatch Thereby releasing said trap to the sprung position.
 5. The trapaccording to claim 1 in which said trigger means includes a latch barpivotally secured adjacent the upper side of one of said rings, saidlatch bar having detent means thereon detachably engaging with the upperside of the other of said ring, and a trigger component freely pivotedto the other of said rings also at the upper side thereof, said triggercomponent including a cylindrical bearing portion engaging around theother of said ring, said portion being cut away for part of thecircumference thereof and between the ends thereof to permit engagementof said detent means with the other of said rings when said trap is inthe set position, the spaced and parallel edges of the walls of saidcylindrical portion defining said cutaway portion, at least oneactuating member secured to said trigger component and extending acrossthe area defined by said other ring, movement of said actuating memberin either direction normal to the plane of said rings engaging one ofsaid first and second edges of said cylindrical bearing portion withsaid latch bar and disengaging said latch bar from the other of saidrings thereby releasing said trap to the sprung position.
 6. The trapaccording to claim 2 in which said trigger means includes a latch barpivotally secured adjacent the upper side of one of said rings, saidlatch bar having detent means thereon detachably engaging with the upperside of the other of said ring, and a trigger component freely pivotedto the other of said rings also at the upper side thereof, said triggercomponent including a cylindrical bearing portion engaging around theother of said ring, said portion being cut away for part of thecircumference thereof and between the ends thereof to permit engagementof said detent means with the other of said rings when said trap is inthe set position, the spaced and parallel edges of the walls of saidcylindrical portion defining said cut-away portion, at least oneactuating member secured to said trigger component and extending acrossthe area defined by said other ring, movement of said actuating memberin either direction normal to the plane of said rings engaging one ofsaid first and second edges of said cylindrical bearing portion withsaid latch bar and disengaging said latch bar from the other of saidrings thereby releasing said trap to the sprung position.
 7. The trapaccording to claim 3 in which said trigger means includes a latch barpivotally secured adjacent the upper side of one of said rings, saidlatch bar having detent means thereon detachably engaging with the upperside of the other of said ring, and a trigger component freely pivotedto the other of said rings also at the upper side thereof, said triggercomponent including a cylindrical bearing portion engaging around theother of said ring, said portion being cut away for part of thecircumference thereof and between the ends thereof to permit engagementof said detent means with the other of said rings when said trap is inthe set position, the spaced and parallel edges of the walls of saidcylindrical portion defining said cutaway portion, at least oneactuating member secured to said trigger component and extending acrossthe area defined by said other ring, movement of said actuating memberin either direction normal to the plane of said rings engaging one ofsaid first and second edges of said cylindrical bearing portion withsaid latch bar and disengaging said latch bar from the other of saidrings thereby releasing said trap to the sprung position.
 8. The trapaccording to claim 4 in which said trigger means includes a latch barpivotally secured adjacent the upper side of one of said rings, saidlatch bar having detent means thereon detachably engaging with the upperside of the other of said ring, and a trigger component freely pivotedto the other of said rings also at the upper side thereof, said triggercomponent including a cylindrical bearing portion engaging Around theother of said ring, said portion being cut away for part of thecircumference thereof and between the ends thereof to permit engagementof said detent means with the other of said rings when said trap is inthe set position, the spaced and parallel edges of the walls of saidcylindrical portion defining said cut-away portion, at least oneactuating member secured to said trigger component and extending acrossthe area defined by said other ring, movement of said actuating memberin either direction normal to the plane of said rings engaging one ofsaid first and second edges of said cylindrical bearing portion withsaid latch bar and disengaging said latch bar from the other of saidrings thereby releasing said trap to the sprung position.
 9. An animaltrap for use on land or in water comprising in combination a base plate,a fixed ring secured to said base plate by the lower side thereof andextending upwardly therefrom, a movable ring pivotally secured forswinging movement by one side thereof to one side of said fixed ring,said rings being situated in parallel planes and substantially injuxtaposition one with the other, tension spring means operativelyconnected between said rings normally biassing said movable ring out ofconcentric relationship with said fixed ring and in the sprung position,and first and second trigger means selectively connectable between saidrings to detachably hold said movable ring in substantially concentricrelationship with said fixed ring and in the set position.
 10. The trapaccording to claim 9 which includes antispread bar means secured to oneof said rings and partially enclosing a portion of the other of saidrings to prevent sideways movement of said movable ring relative to saidfixed ring.
 11. The trap according to claim 9 which includes anoffstanding lug secured to said fixed ring and extending outwardlytherefrom in the same plane as said fixed ring, and an offstanding lugsecured to said movable ring and extending outwardly therefrom in thesame plane as said movable ring, pivot means securing said lugstogether, one of said lugs having an extension beyond said pivot means,spring anchor means on said ring which includes the other of said lug,said tension spring being secured to said lugs by the ends thereof. 12.The trap according to claim 9 in which said first trigger means includesa pan pivoted to said base plate and extending therefrom upon one sideof one of said rings, said pan including a deep end thereon, and atrigger latch also pivoted to said base plate upon the opposite side ofthe other of said rings, said latch extending over the lower side ofsaid movable ring and detachably engaging said deep end thereby holdingsaid ring in the set position, downward movement of said pan releasingsaid deep end from said latch thereby releasing said trap to the sprungposition.
 13. The trap according to claim 9 in which said second triggermeans includes a latch bar pivotally secured adjacent the upper side ofone of said rings, said latch bar having detent means thereon detachablyengaging with the upper side of the other of said ring, and a triggercomponent freely pivoted to the other of said rings also at the upperside thereof, said trigger component including a cylindrical bearingportion engaging around the other of said ring, said portion being cutaway for part of the circumference thereof and between the ends thereofto permit engagement of said detent means with the other of said ringswhen said trap is in the set position, the spaced and parallel edges ofthe walls of said cylindrical portion defining said cut-away portion, atleast one actuating member secured to said trigger component andextending across the area defined by said other ring, movement of saidactuating member in either direction normal to the plane of said ringsengaging one of said first and second edges of said cylindrical bearingportion with said latch bar and disengaging said latch bar from theother of said rings thereby rEleasing said trap to the sprung position.